James Wilcox
A master of whatever is required by the day! A high school social studies teacher, published author, father of 3, stay home Mr. Mom during the summer and being an attentive husband are just a few things that keep James on his toes. In his spare time James is a writer and photographer. Before returning to school for his Master's Degree in Education James was a photo journalist for the Independence Examiner. James is active in FIRE (Foundation for Inclusive Religious Education) and is actively involved at the CCVI (Children's Center for the Visually Impaired). He is also busy learning braille with his son Nathan who lives with the effects of ROP, Nathan was a micro-preemie who was born at 24 weeks gestation. James and his family live in Kansas City. To Read about James' book, "Sex, Lies and the Classroom," or order your own copy, visit JamesPWilcox.com
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published: 2/4/2012 12:00:00 AM
I need it to snow! Really, I do! I really need it to snow!
Now, I am not a fan of winter weather, despite the fact that I have lived in either Kansas or Missouri most of my life. I don’t like cold weather and I am not a big fan of snow either. I don’t like driving in the snow and ice, I can do without shoveling the walk, and frankly, I would ...
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by: James Wilcox
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published: 1/28/2012 12:00:00 AM
Bed time has always been difficult in my house. Although my wife and I have set bed times for each of our three children and try to strictly enforce the bed time, it is becoming a fiasco. It starts off with complaints from my youngest son that his brother gets to stay up longer than he does. It continues with a debate on which pajamas each child should wear. Then we have to go through ...
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by: James Wilcox
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published: 1/21/2012 12:00:00 AM
I was sitting on the bleachers, talking with a couple of the other fifth-grade dads, waiting for basketball practice to end earlier this week. As our sons came sprinting off the court and started to gather up their sweatpants, water bottles, and coats, I happened to overhear a couple of the boys talking about texting each other. As they walked past me, toward the door, I noticed that several of them were playing games on ...
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by: James Wilcox
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published: 1/14/2012 12:00:00 AM
When I had the opportunity to sign my youngest son up for his third-grade basketball team several weeks ago, it was a no brainer. My son loves basketball. He loves playing basketball. He really enjoys shooting baskets, dribbling the ball, and passing it around. He will stop and watch KU basketball with me on TV. When I asked him if he wanted to be on the team, he said yes, without a moment’s hesitation.
Like ...
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by: James Wilcox
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published: 1/7/2012 12:00:00 AM
At the beginning of each New Year, I, like millions of other Americans, make resolutions. I resolve to eat better, to give up drinking soda, to lose weight, to get in shape. I seem to make the same resolutions year after year, and year after year, I fail to live up to my New Year’s resolutions. I have gotten so frustrated with my resolutions that this year, I am resolving not to resolve. That’s right! ...
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by: James Wilcox
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published: 12/24/2011 12:00:00 AM
I have to be honest with you, I usually dread Christmas Eve. Between scrambling to finish the Christmas shopping, hustling to make it to church (in time to actually find some place to sit), the wrapping, the cookie making, and just the general chaos of making sure everything is ready for the big day, I usually end up feeling frazzled and stressed out. This year is different though. This year I am actually looking forward ...
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by: James Wilcox
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published: 12/17/2011 12:00:00 AM
I had just settled myself on the couch in our back room, when my oldest son surprised me with a question.” “Dad, do you believe in Santa Claus?” The question itself didn’t surprise me all that much, he has been asking a lot of questions about Santa this year, but the fact that he blurted it out in front of his younger brother and sister did. “Absolutely,” I answered without missing a beat. Unfortunately, he ...
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by: James Wilcox
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published: 12/10/2011 12:00:00 AM
The week was dragging on, but the end was in sight. I was fighting a cold (sniffles, cough, sore throat) but I simply couldn’t miss a day of school because it was the week before finals. I was tired, overwhelmed by the amount of work that still needed to be done, and all I wanted to do was make it through the day. Then my cell phone rang.
Now, I am not supposed to answer ...
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by: James Wilcox
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published: 12/3/2011 12:00:00 AM
December 13th? Why does my daughters Christmas program have to fall on December 13th? Seriously, of all the days in December for the school to pick, why did it have to be December 13th? I can do any other day, but December 13th just isn’t going to work. I have a prior commitment that I simply can’t change. I can’t! Really, I can’t!
What is so important that I can’t change my plans and risk ...
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by: James Wilcox
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published: 11/26/2011 12:00:00 AM
With the Thanksgiving holiday just past and the Christmas season upon us, this is a great time to take a few moments to reflect on the past year and offer thanks to all of the blessings we have experienced over the past year. This is a time to be thankful and to offer gratitude to the many people who touch our lives each and every day. With this in mind, I would like to take ...
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by: James Wilcox
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published: 11/19/2011 12:00:00 AM
My youngest son is having his 9th birthday party. Although his actual birthday isn’t until later this month, this is the only weekend we can have the party and avoid the Thanksgiving holiday travel. When my wife started planning the party, about a month ago, the first question she asked was, “what is the theme of the party?” (my wife is big on parties with themes). Over the next couple of days, several “themes” were ...
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by: James Wilcox
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published: 11/12/2011 12:00:00 AM
For any of you who have boys who are involved in Cub Scouts, you know one of the highlights of the Scouting year is the Pinewood Derby. Both my boys received their Pinewood Derby kits several weeks ago and immediately began planning what kind of car they were going to make for this year’s race. Unfortunately, our family’s busy schedule conspired against us and we weren’t able to start working on the cars until last ...
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by: James Wilcox
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published: 11/5/2011 12:00:00 AM
The pumpkins were carved, the Halloween lights were strung, candy was sitting in the bowl, and my kids were in their costumes. Everything was ready for a night of trick-or-treating. As the sun began to set and it started to get dark, my children were anxious to start going door-to-door. There was one problem though: we weren’t home yet. We were still making our Halloween visits.
Over the past 10 years, a Halloween tradition of ...
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by: James Wilcox
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published: 10/29/2011 12:00:00 AM
When my son first started losing his vision (at three months old), my wife and I decided that it was vital that he learn to read and write Braille. As a student that the Children’s Center of the Visually Impaired, CCVI, he started receiving Braille instruction when he about four-years-old. After he graduated from the CCVI, he continued to receive Braille instruction through the school district and from a private Braille tutor. For almost five ...
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by: James Wilcox
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published: 10/22/2011 1:00:00 AM
Okay, I am going to be honest with you. As much as I hate to admit it, my kids are slobs. They really are. My wife and I have tried for years to get them to keep their room clean and nice, but it just doesn’t work. We harp on them, we give them consequences, we take stuff away, but nothing works. We try to be consistent in how we handle their sloppiness, but frankly, ...
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by: James Wilcox